About Aortic Aneurysms

Arteries can become diseased, dilated, enlarged and can subsequently rupture causing death. Arterial Aneurysms are the term given to dilated ballooned arteries, these most commonly occur in the Aorta, the largest blood vessel in the body arising from the heart. Arterial Aneurysms grow slowly, often develop in people over 65 years of age and sometimes run in families. The most common artery involved is the Abdominal Aorta but also can occur in the Thoracic Aorta, Femoral and Popliteal arteries.

Dr Gett can treat your aortic aneurysm with either Endovascular Surgery or Open Vascular Surgery.

Endovascular Surgery

Minimally invasive ‘key hole’ surgery is a technique used to treat aortic aneurysms. A metallic stent graft, covered in non porous material, is placed in the diseased arterial aneurysm to exclude the blood vessel from the circulation, relining the artery and preventing the aneurysm from rupturing and causing death. This endovascular surgery can be performed with minimally invasive techniques enabling for a faster recovery and mobilisation, typically only 2 or 3 days in hospital. The procedure is performed under a general anaesthetic in a hybrid surgical operating X-ray catheter suite, using the latest 3 dimensional angiography techniques.

Dr Gett has extensive experience in performing advanced endovascular techniques to treat complex arterial aneurysms so you can have confidence your artery will not rupture.

Open Surgery

Due to some anatomical considerations, a small number of arterial aneurysms cannot be treated by endovascular surgery. Major Vascular surgery is then required to surgically replace the diseased arterial aneurysm. This surgery is performed under general anaesthetic and may take 2- 4 hours. After your surgery, medical care in an intensive care unit often for 24 hours and a hospital stay of 7 -10 days is required. 

Dr Gett is very experienced with excellent results in treating these forms of major vascular aneurysm reconstructions